Judi Vinar has thrived for more than 30 years as a singer, songwriter, director, arranger, and teacher of Jazz, R&B, folk, musical theater, gospel, and Classical music. She has released two cds, Sink or Swing and Ballads and Bossas.
Vinar grew up singing everything from Julie Andrews to Blood Sweat and Tears. By the mid-90s, she was singing Swing on Wednesdays, folk on Fridays, R&B on Saturdays, Cabaret on Mondays, and Gospel on Sunday. She met her vocal hero, Bobby McFerrin in 1997, and worked for McFerrin during a writing project for one year. In 2001, he hired her to join his 12-member a cappela group, Voicestra.
Over the years, Vinar also has performed with such greats as Yo Yo Ma, Janis Siegel, Marilyn McCoo, and Carole King made for good diary days. Judi Donaghy Vinar works regularly with The Wolverines Classic Jazz Orchestra, JazzMN Big Band, The Girls, Urbanstride, St. Croix Jazz Orchestra, and her own acoustic ensemble, Judi, Cliff ‘n’ Daves.
A teacher of voice for nearly 20 years at McNally Smith College of Music, Judi Donaghy Vinar has presented numerous clinics on vocal styles and improvisation at jazz festivals and educational conferences in the Midwest and beyond. She is the associate music director and choir director for Unity Christ Church in Golden Valley, Minneapolis.